“Guilty.”
“Are you allowed to leave before the grooms? You are the best man.”
I look around. The happy couple are chatting up a storm with Fraser’s family.
“We’ll go and say goodbye. They won’t mind.”
Beau and Fraser pause their conversation as we walk over to them.
I touch Beau on the elbow. “It’s been an amazing day. Happy?”
“Ecstatic.” He hugs me. “Thanks for being my best man.”
“I’d say anytime, but hopefully, I’ll never have to do it again.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not letting this handsome man go,” Fraser says.
Beau puts his arm around Fraser’s shoulders. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but by your side.”
I smile at how sickly sweet they’re being. It’s their wedding day. They’re allowed.
“We’re going to go,” I tell them.
“See you at breakfast?”
We and Fraser’s family are staying the night at the hotel, while the rest of the guests, including our housemates, will be heading home.
“Of course. Night.”
I lead Quinn out of the reception room, saying goodbye to everyone we pass. We go to our room on the third floor, where I pull him to me for a much dirtier kiss than I’d dared to give him on the dance floor.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”
Quinn runs his teeth over his lip and tugs my cravat loose. “I wish I had the energy for sex.”
“It’s fine.” I nuzzle and nip his jaw. “There’s always tomorrow.”
“Your present.”
He slips out of my grasp and goes to our suitcase, unzips the top compartment, and pulls out what looks like two pieces of thick card laid on top of each other. He lifts one piece off and comes back to me.
“First the silly gift.” Quinn hands me the first piece of artwork that had been protected by the card.
I laugh as I see it’s a drawing of me as a vampire, complete with dramatic collar and fangs. “This is perfect.” I kiss him tenderly.
“Next the heartfelt gift.” He gives me the second drawing.
My heart does a loop-the-loop as I see that it’s a drawing of the two of us embracing. We’re naked and staring into each other’s eyes. Quinn has shaded love bite bruises on his neck and shoulders. My hand is cupping his jaw. His is pressed against my heart. I blink back tears and clear my throat.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Quinn blushes. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it? I love it. We need to frame this and hang it in our room.”
Quinn’s blush intensifies. His head nods, so I put my arm around his shoulders to steady him.
His room is now our room, and mine has been transformed into a bright and airy art studio. There’s a huge bean bag in there for if he needs to sleep while he’s working. He’s got a new contract to do illustrations for another book, as well as the odd commission from Theo’s puppy play friends.
